RU2653448C1 - Simulator of space flight of a space vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: simulators; aeronautics.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to simulators of manned space vehicles equipped with electronic display systems and optical surveillance means, and can be used for entertainment and cognitive purposes in order to develop the skills of managing the “Soyuz” space vehicle. Flight simulator of the space vehicle is a supporting structure with guides and a pitch frame in the form of a semicircle, designed to move along the guides. Vertical support is located in front of the user's seat and is connected to the pitch frame. Also, the support has a table with guides of translation motion. Control arms, a control panel with side monitors, located at the top of the vertical support are located in the guides.

EFFECT: technical result of the invention is the expansion of the functionality of space flight simulators.

1 cl, 4 dwg

Description

The invention relates to simulators of manned spacecraft equipped with electronic display systems and optical surveillance tools, and can be used for entertainment and cognitive purposes in order to develop the skills of controlling the Soyuz spacecraft.

The known design of the flight simulator seat with vibration and shock simulators (RF patent No. 2555053, publication date 07/10/2015), containing the base of the seat, the racks of which are mounted on damping supports, vibration and shock excitation mechanisms and an acoustic system where a standard seat is used, and the vibration and shock excitation mechanism is a commercial music subwoofer mounted in a box, the outlet of which is closed by a rubber membrane to which one end of the rod is attached, while the other end thrust mounted on a regular pilot seat.

This design creates an atmosphere of being in the cockpit of a spaceship (helicopter, etc.) by creating a correspondence between the visible image and real sensations in this case (sound, jolts, bumps). This approach allows you to immerse the user in a real flight environment.

However, the drawbacks of this design are its limited functionality, due to the static position of the user's chair, which does not allow you to fully experience the sensations that arise during the flight and specially provoked situations in which there are inclinations and movements of the user's chair.

A known design of an aircraft pilot simulator (RF patent No. 130733, publication date July 27, 2013), comprising a cockpit with a pilot's seat, motion controls, video device, pitch rotation frame, base with struts, pitch and axial rotation mechanisms, where the cockpit is installed inside the pitch rotation frame with the possibility of rotation around its longitudinal axis, and the frame itself is installed between the pillars of the base by means of two bearing units, the pitch rotation frame contains a fork, a ring with a cab by means of a bearing assembly made on silent blocks, and a ring perpendicular to the plane of the plug, which covers the cab; outside the cab, at least three rollers are arranged around the circumference, mounted with the possibility of rolling but to the ring; and bearing units of the base racks are made on silent blocks. Can also be used additional devices that enhance the completeness of immersion: stereo sound, light, air pressure, vibration, cooling, heating, etc. The simulator for pilot training allows you to make controlled unlimited movements of the cockpit: roll (to the right, left), pitch (up, down), rotation in both directions around its own axis. Movements can be performed separately or simultaneously, which allows you to simulate all the elements of aerobatics. The video device generates a stereo (three-dimensional) image for the user, there are also devices that create various additional effects.

However, this pitch design is complex and cumbersome, occupying a separate significant area. In addition, the motion control tools (control panel) and the user's chair are located inside the limited space of the cabin without the possibility of moving them, taking into account the growth, size and other subjective characteristics of the user (for example, an adult or a child), which leads to a limitation of the functionality of the considered design of the simulator .

According to the patent of the Russian Federation No. 2367027 (publication date 09/10/2009), the design of the simulator of a manned spacecraft (Don-Soyuz-TMA, Soyuz-TMA) is known, taken as the closest analogue to the claimed solution, containing a model of the descent vehicle cockpit manned spacecraft and including a surveillance camera, communication simulators "Board-Earth", a motion control knob, a special astronaut’s sight, an orientation control knob, an acoustic system, visual portholes, a flight engineer’s chair, a commander’s chair work table and chair of an astronaut-researcher, a software package for visualizing flight and controlling it.

The cockpit layout is a static hull with static seats of crew members fixed in it, which does not allow users to fully create the reality of sensations from the flight of a spacecraft, which also indicates the limited functional capabilities of the design.

The technical result of the invention is to expand the functionality of spacecraft flight simulators by creating a compact design while providing full-fledged sensations for users arising from a spacecraft flight, taking into account their subjective features.

The technical result is achieved by using the design of a spacecraft flight simulator containing a support structure, guides connected to the support structure, a semicircle pitch frame made to move along the guides, a user chair connected to the pitch frame, a vertical support located in front of the user chair connected to the pitch frame and having a table with translational guides in which the control knobs are located, the control panel on the side with monitors, located in the upper part of the vertical support, the mechanism for moving the pitch frame along the guides, the mechanism for vertical movement of the control panel with side monitors along the vertical support, a hardware-software complex for visualizing flight and controlling it, an acoustic system, a vibromechanism for simulating acceleration sensations.

All of the listed elements of the claimed simulator are located within the supporting structure, which ensures its compactness and ease of placement. The presence of a software package for visualizing the flight and controlling it, the guides along which the pitch frame moves, and the acoustic system allows you to provide sensations that are close to real that arise during the flight of the ship. At the same time, the presence of a mechanism for the vertical movement of the control panel with side monitors allows you to create conditions for training / learning / playing for any user - a child or an adult. These advantages allow you to get a product that can take its rightful place in the line of similar products.

In FIG. 1 shows a general view of the design of a simulator for a spacecraft flight.

In FIG. 2 shows a side view of the design of a simulator for a spacecraft flying in its initial position.

In FIG. Figure 3 shows a side view of a simulator design for a spacecraft flight while simulating a spacecraft flight.

In FIG. 4 shows a top view of a simulator design for a spacecraft flight.

The spacecraft flight simulator contains a supporting structure 1, guides 2 connected to the supporting structure 1, a semicircle pitch frame 3, movable along the guides 2, a user chair 4 connected to the pitch frame 3, a vertical support 5 located in front of the chair user 4 connected to the pitch frame 3 and having a table 6 with translational guides 7, in which are located the control knobs 8, the control panel 9 with side monitors 10, located in the upper part of the vertical support 5, the mechanism for moving the pitch frame along the guides (not shown), the mechanism for vertical movement of the control panel with side monitors along the vertical support (not shown), a hardware-software complex for visualizing flight and controlling it (not shown), an acoustic system (not shown), the vibration mechanism simulating acceleration sensations (not shown) (Fig. 1, 2, 3).

The supporting structure 1 is made of a bent seamless tubular profile in the shape of a circle. Inside it is installed corrugated flooring, steps.

The pitch frame 3 is made of a bent seamless tubular profile in the form of a semicircle.

Guide 2 is a curved rail rail in which the pitch frame 3 moves.

The mechanism for moving the pitch frame along the guides is a cable electric drive for moving the pitch frame from its original position to the working position and back as part of a winch, cable-block system with pre-tensioning devices. These devices are located in the lower part of the supporting structure 1 under the corrugated flooring. It is also possible to use an actuator instead of a cable electric drive with a winch to move the pitch frame described above.

The mechanism of vertical movement of the control panel with side monitors along the vertical support 5 is an electric drive (actuator), which is located inside the control panel 9 in its central part connected to the vertical support 5.

Table 6 is a metal surface with fixed translational guides 7.

The control knobs 8 are a ship orientation control knob (RCD), a ship motion control knob (RUD). The trigger control handle (RUS) is also provided.

The vibro-mechanism for simulating acceleration sensations is installed under the user's chair and allows you to convey the sensations of vibration and shocks at different stages of flight, approach, docking, undocking, descent and landing.

The acoustic system is a speaker with a mini subwoofer, transmitting sounds close to real when starting and flying the Soyuz spacecraft. It is located under the metal table 6, while the cables can be located inside the control panel 9, and sound sources (speakers) can be mounted in the control panel 9.

The flight simulator of the Soyuz spacecraft is intended for use in entertaining and educational purposes. It can be installed in technology parks, thematic and children's educational centers, technical and thematic museums, educational institutions, shopping and entertainment complexes and other leisure enterprises.

In all versions of the simulator, a basic version of the software is provided, which includes approaching the ISS from a distance of 100 meters; the ability to dock to various docking stations of the station; change of time of day and lighting; three levels of training / user skills from "beginner" to "astronaut"; evaluation of docking results.

The minimum user age is 8 years.

The number of users at a time is 1 person.

The complexity of the flight program can be changed by the operator of the simulator by choosing different levels of preparedness of the player, as well as by entering emergency situations.

The software (software) provides for the possibility of stopping / pausing at any time during a flight with the subsequent resumption of flight in accordance with predefined conditions.

Side screens are used to display the Soyuz spacecraft on the launch pad of the Baikonur Cosmodrome; video review of the launch of the launch vehicle with the Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the flight of the rocket and the spacecraft with separation of the rocket stages as they are worked out and until the Soyuz spacecraft is launched into Earth orbit; special space sight for approaching and docking with the ISS. Side monitors are also used to display technical information about the status of the Soyuz spacecraft; information about flight modes; display of the ISS from various angles in dynamics; results of successful and unsuccessful actions of users related to the management of the Soyuz spacecraft; estimated information about the results of user actions.

In the simulator locations, it is possible to install a screen / screens on which a presentation video will be displayed with a demonstration of the graphics and capabilities of the simulator, and it is also possible to duplicate the image from the side screens of the simulator.

The following is the work of the simulator when creating various flight modes of the spacecraft.

When the demo mode starts, on the side screens of the simulator, the process of approaching the Soyuz spacecraft from the ISS from a distance of 800 meters starts, the control panel displays technical information about the state of the ship; a moving map of the Earth with the instantaneous position of the ship in orbit relative to the Earth.

During prelaunch preparation, the user sits in a chair, fastens his seat belt and receives instructions from the instructor. This stage can last indefinitely, but until the instructor presses the KEY TO START button.

The following information is displayed on the side screens:

- on the left side screen - the camera of the circular review of the launch pad of the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The period is approximately 15-30 seconds (view of the launch pad and the rocket on it);

- on the right side screen - view of the launch pad from the on-board camera (top to bottom) (or similarly to the left porthole);

- on the control panel - display of service information of the status of the ship; map of the earth.

The launch of the spacecraft into orbit begins with the user’s seat in the working (playing) position corresponding to the position of the astronauts in the Soyuz real spacecraft before launch and in the future, before moving to the ISS, and the instructor presses the KEY TO START button.

After bringing the chair into working (playing) position, a video with the launching rocket from the launch pad appears on the side screens, dynamic technical information about the condition of the ship is broadcast on the monitors of the astronaut’s console.

After the launch of the launch vehicle in the side windows in accelerated mode, the user (player) observes all the evolution of the rocket as the ship is put into near-earth orbit (shooting the mast of the SAS (Emergency Rescue System), resetting the head fairing, turning on and off the engines, separating the rocket stages, launching ship, the disclosure of solar panels, etc.).

At the time of the launch of the Soyuz spacecraft into orbit on the screens of the side windows, the player sees the Earth, the Sun, the starry sky, alternately appearing on the side screens of the simulator.

Next, the approach mode with the ISS is turned on and the image of the Soyuz spacecraft moving in the direction of the ISS appears on the side screens. The control panel broadcasts dynamic technical information about the condition of the ship.

If the instructor is set to automatically dock, then the player does not need to do anything, he only enjoys the picture of the flight and subsequently the automatic docking.

If the approach and docking are set in manual mode, then at a distance from the ISS about 100 meters, an abnormal situation (NShS) occurs - the automation fails (with the appropriate alarm), and the player must take control of the ship's proximity and docking with the ISS .

The process of rendezvous and docking can last indefinitely and end with the successful docking of the Soyuz spacecraft with the ISS or the spacecraft’s flight, or that the player will “crash” the ship and the station.

The maneuvering of the Soyuz spacecraft is carried out using the control knobs of the RUO and ORE.

In case of unsuccessful docking, the program provides (at the request of the player) the procedure for the removal of the ship, the ISS overflight and two more attempts to dock with a decrease (or without) the difficulty level.

At the end of the game session, the side screens display the results of user actions related to the control of the Soyuz spacecraft and the estimated information about the results of user actions is displayed.

After the training / game, the instructor presses the STOP button and returns the pitch frame to its original position, unfastens the seat belts, after which the user can exit the chair.

The claimed design of the simulator allows you to take into account the individual characteristics of the user (height, body parameters, etc.) and set the control panel with side screens at such a level that it is most convenient for the user to see images and control the simulation flight process before starting a training / game. In this case, all structural elements are located inside the support structure of a circular shape, which indicates the simulator compactness.

Claims (1)

A spacecraft flight simulator, characterized in that it comprises a support structure, guides connected to the support structure, a semicircle pitch frame made to move along the guides, a user chair connected to a pitch frame, a vertical support located in front of the user chair, connected with a pitch frame and a table with translational guides in which control knobs are located, a control panel with side monitors located at the top vertical support, the mechanism for moving the pitch frame along the guides, the mechanism for vertical movement of the control panel with side monitors along the vertical support, a hardware-software complex for visualizing the flight and controlling it, an acoustic system, a vibromechanism for simulating acceleration sensations.

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